Food security refers to the consistent access of individuals to adequate, secure, and healthy food that completes their nutritional demand for an agile and strong life. Soil sustainability refers to a living ecosystem which provides a healthy habitat to support the growth of humans, animals, and plants. Both concepts are interconnected, with soil health being crucial for agricultural productivity and, consequently, food security. However, challenges such as soil degradation, including erosion, compaction, nutrient depletion, and pollution, pose significant threats to soil sustainability. Human actions like desertification, overgrazing, improper farming applications etc. accelerate soil degradation, reducing it’s potential to support crops and preserve water. Climate change exacerbates these issues through increased temperatures and extreme weather events. Additionally, modern agricultural practices, including monoculture and excessive use of chemical inputs, further degrade soil health. Urbanization also intensifies these challenges by limiting arable land and increasing food demand in cities. Economic inequality worsens food insecurity, especially as climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities dependent on agriculture. Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer sustainable strategies for addressing these challenges by leveraging natural processes. Agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and wetland restoration are examples of NBS that ameliorate soil potency, prevent erosion, and increase crop yields. Additionally, biofertilizers contribute to soil health by reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and increasing crop resilience to climate change. Together, these solutions provide holistic approaches to improving both food security and soil sustainability, fostering more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.

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Nature-Based Solutions for Food Security and Soil Sustainability

  • Seema Sangwan,
  • Garima Saxena,
  • Radha Prasanna

摘要

Food security refers to the consistent access of individuals to adequate, secure, and healthy food that completes their nutritional demand for an agile and strong life. Soil sustainability refers to a living ecosystem which provides a healthy habitat to support the growth of humans, animals, and plants. Both concepts are interconnected, with soil health being crucial for agricultural productivity and, consequently, food security. However, challenges such as soil degradation, including erosion, compaction, nutrient depletion, and pollution, pose significant threats to soil sustainability. Human actions like desertification, overgrazing, improper farming applications etc. accelerate soil degradation, reducing it’s potential to support crops and preserve water. Climate change exacerbates these issues through increased temperatures and extreme weather events. Additionally, modern agricultural practices, including monoculture and excessive use of chemical inputs, further degrade soil health. Urbanization also intensifies these challenges by limiting arable land and increasing food demand in cities. Economic inequality worsens food insecurity, especially as climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities dependent on agriculture. Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer sustainable strategies for addressing these challenges by leveraging natural processes. Agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and wetland restoration are examples of NBS that ameliorate soil potency, prevent erosion, and increase crop yields. Additionally, biofertilizers contribute to soil health by reducing dependency on chemical fertilizers and increasing crop resilience to climate change. Together, these solutions provide holistic approaches to improving both food security and soil sustainability, fostering more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.